No comfort in past success as Heat lick wounds

The Heat have built a mini-dynasty out of succeeding with their backs against the wall.

They’ve gone 47 playoff games without losing two in a row, the third-longest streak in NBA history behind Chicago (52 from 1990-93) and Boston (54 from 1962-66). They have recovered to win after each of their last 13 postseason losses. They have won 11 straight games when facing a two-game series deficit or elimination, with five coming against the Spurs.

All of those streaks will be on the line in Game 4 of the Finals after the Spurs crushed the two-time defending champions 111-92 on Tuesday on their home court to take a 2-1 series lead.

As their budging trophy case proves, the Heat have responded time and time again in such situations. Yet that provides them with no comfort entering a Game 4 on Thursday that, with defeat, would give the Spurs three opportunities, including two at home, to end their championship reign.

“We can’t play this game for the whole time,” Chris Bosh said of trading games with the Spurs. “We’re going to have to win consecutive games or we’re going to be on the losing end of a championship.”

Said LeBron James, “You never get comfortable in a playoff series. You’re always on edge throughout the whole series until it’s over. So you’re never comfortable. You just try to learn from your mistakes that you made in the previous game, and not make the same ones the next game.”

The Heat certainly had plenty to study from their last outing, during which the Spurs set a Finals record by shooting 75.8 percent in the first half. They did rally within seven late in the third quarter, but the Spurs thwarted the charge and won going away to shred Miami for the second time in the series.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra put his team through an hour-long video session on Wednesday — shorter than reported, but still lengthy by Heat standards.

“We’ve been in (bad) situations enough that we understand it,” he said. “Now, you still have to go through it.”

Despite the prospect of a 3-1 deficit, from which no team has ever recovered in the Finals, Miami’s Dwyane Wade said his team isn’t getting wrapped up in the bigger picture.

“If you know anything about us, we’re an in-the-moment team,” he said. “And right now, in the moment after a loss is getting better mentally, physically, and then coming into tomorrow and playing the game of basketball here on our home floor and trying to win Game 4. That is all we focus on.”

As for the Spurs, they’re well aware of the success Miami has had when threatened.

“We have to start the game the same way,” Spurs forward Boris Diaw said. “We know they’re going to try to come back as hard as they can. They don’t like to lose, and usually after a loss they come back pretty strong.”